This was, without a doubt, one of the most difficult and sad events that Israeli football has experienced in recent years: last night (Wednesday), at the end of the Haifa derby game, a mass brawl developed between the players and team members of the two teams. Today, the full report of the judge, Liran Liani, was published, documenting what was happening, step by step.
“With the final whistle, Maccabi Haifa player San Menachem ran defiantly and provocatively, shouting at the Hapoel Haifa team’s bench players: ‘Home, you are a bunch of rags.’ As a result, Eden Ben Best ran towards him in an aggressive and threatening manner, and the two began to quarrel. “Within a few seconds, a mass riot broke out on the lawn, involving players and officials from both teams.”
After naming the players, Liani went on to write: “These players took an active part in the brawl – rioting, cursing, strangling, pulling shirts, beating and trying to hit each other, all around them with many players and team members, who tried to separate the commotion.”
“During the commotion, Maccabi Haifa general manager Assaf Ben Dov, who was thrown to the field by Hapoel Haifa player Alon Turgeman, came down to the field. Assaf decided to take an active part in the fight, and was seen pushing with his hands; while Alon continued to fight in the players’ tunnel area.” .
“In addition, Hapoel Haifa’s fitness coach Danny Bibbs seems to be pushing and trying to punch his fists on the lawn, as well as in the players ‘tunnel area. The commotion soon spread to the players’ tunnel area, with the same players continuing to quarrel, riot and punch everywhere.”
“Only with the intervention of the security and police forces could the brawl be taken over and brought to an end,” Liani concluded.
